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Can I Collect Social Security Benefits While I'm Working?

September 12th, 2013

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Yes, you can collect Social Security benefits while working, but it may not make sense to do so.

Many people continue to work beyond retirement, either by choice or out of necessity. But if you decide to start receiving Social Security benefits, you need to be aware of how working can affect your benefit payments. Earning income above Social Security thresholds can cause a reduction in benefits and mean your benefits will be taxed.

Hale Ball Carlson Baumgartner Murphy PLC

Jean Galloway Ball is certified in Elder Law by the National Elder Law Foundation. She is a 1977 honors graduate of the National Law Center, George Washington University, and she did her undergraduate work at the University of California at Berkeley, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1971.
She is admitted to practice in Vir...

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Felinton Elder Law & Estate Planning Centers

Mindy Felinton concentrates in the areas of Medicaid planning, Veterans' Benefits, asset protection, nursing home planning, elder law, wills, estate planning, trusts, living wills, powers of attorney, probate administration and trust administration and began her legal career 30 years ago as an Assistant State Attorney...

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For Jeffrey Hammond, the practice of Elder Law is personal. Jeff’s many years of experience in law and in business did not prepare him for the crisis he faced in 2005 and 2006 when his father suffered a stroke and both of his parents suffered from dementia and other medical problems. At that time, Jeff began an i...

Tell us about your legal issue and we will put you in touch with Jeffrey Hammond.

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If you work and are at full retirement age or older, you can earn as much as you want and your benefits will not be reduced, although they may be taxed if you earn above a certain level. If you are younger than full retirement age and already collecting Social Security, there is a limit to how much you can earn and still receive full benefits. Whether it makes sense to work and collect Social Security at the same time is a complicated assessment that depends on how much you earn and when you begin taking Social Security benefits.

For more information on how work affects Social Security benefits, click here.